Coaching is often seen as a luxury reserved for the C-suite—a tool for executives navigating high-stakes decisions. However, what if coaching could be democratized, empowering leaders at every level to thrive? Today, effective leadership is no longer just about authority; it’s about emotional intelligence, empathy, and the ability to inspire teams to achieve their best.
The need for better leadership is more pressing than ever. According to recent studies, 75% of employees say their manager is the most stressful part of their job, contributing to rising burnout and turnover rates. At the same time, companies that invest in leadership development are 2.5 times more likely to outperform their competitors. In an era marked by digital transformation and remote work, how can organizations cultivate leaders who not only adapt but lead with purpose and impact?
This is where Stephane Panier comes in, an entrepreneur who is challenging conventional leadership paradigms. As the Founder and CEO of New Level Work, Stephane is on a mission to redefine how leaders are developed, using a powerful blend of executive coaching, leadership training, and AI-driven tools. With a career that spans Google’s meteoric rise and the startup world, Stephane brings strategic insight and a people-first philosophy to the table.
Join us as we explore Stephane’s remarkable journey—a leader who is not just changing the way we think about management but is also building a future where leadership is about empowering others to succeed.
A Journey Defined by Leadership and Vision
Stephane Panier’s journey is a testament to the power of vision and adaptability. Starting as a nuclear engineer in France, Stephane’s career took him to the USA and China, where he worked on critical power projects, including the first outage of a French-built nuclear power plant in China. However, his ambition and drive for broader impact led him to pivot from engineering to business. In 1998, he moved to the U.S. to attend Harvard Business School, earning his MBA and launching a career that would eventually shape the leadership landscape.
After graduating, Stephane joined Booz Allen & Hamilton as a management consultant. However, his career took a pivotal turn in 2002 when he joined Google. At that time, Google was a budding company with just 500 employees, but its vision to organize the world’s information resonated with Stephane’s drive towards innovation. Over six years, he played a crucial role in scaling Google’s financial operations, first by leading finance for AdSense, where revenue soared from $100 million to $1.4 billion, and then by heading finance for Google Europe, driving revenue from $600 million to $3.4 billion.
Reflecting on his tenure at Google, Stephane shares, “We thrived because we were committed to sustaining a safe and supportive working environment. Collaboration, emotional intelligence, and human connection were at the heart of our success. I realized that leadership is about empowering others, not exercising authority.”
This philosophy became the foundation of New Level Work, which Stephane Panier founded in 2016 to redefine leadership development. His vision was clear: to equip managers with the skills to lead and thrive in an ever-changing workplace.
The Birth of New Level Work: Transforming Leadership Development
New Level Work was born out of Stephane’s recognition that the traditional view of management—as either a functionary role or an exercise of power—was outdated. His mission was to shift the paradigm to view managers as public servants, responsible for ensuring their teams’ well-being, growth, and success.
With this vision, New Level Work launched as a coaching and training platform designed to elevate leadership development. Its approach is grounded in the belief that great leadership goes beyond emotional intelligence and collaboration—it requires adaptability in the face of constant change. As industries navigate rapid shifts, from the lasting impacts of COVID-19 to the rise of AI, New Level Work is committed to equipping leaders with the agility and strategic foresight needed to keep their companies at the forefront of innovation and success. The company offers a comprehensive ecosystem that includes one-on-one leadership coaching, group coaching, leadership training, and Leora AI—an innovative suite of AI-powered leadership tools designed to personalize and scale leadership development.
“What sets us apart is our holistic approach,” Stephane explains. “We don’t just provide coaching or training. We integrate both with AI-driven insights, ensuring leaders receive tailored development experiences that drive real business impact.”
This unique combination has positioned New Level Work as the industry’s most complete leadership development solution. Unlike competitors that either focus on coaching or training, it seamlessly blends both, supported by executive-level coaches with at least 10 years of leadership experience. This ensures that leaders are guided by seasoned experts who understand the complexities of business challenges.
Overcoming Challenges and Pioneering Growth
Starting New Level Work was not without challenges. One of the biggest hurdles was changing the perception of coaching. “When we launched, coaching was largely seen as exclusive to the C-suite. We had to educate companies on its value at all leadership levels,” Stephane Panier recalls. The company adopted a strategic approach by running pilot programs to demonstrate tangible impact. This gradually shifted mindsets, leading to broader adoption across industries.
A significant turning point for the company came with developing Leadership Journeys—comprehensive programs integrating training, group coaching, practical content, and ROI measurement. This allowed New Level Work to scale its solutions to larger organizations with over 5,000 employees, significantly expanding its market reach.
Then came the global pandemic. “COVID-19 initially disrupted our business, but by 2021, demand surged as companies realized the importance of retaining and developing their talent,” Stephane shares. With the rise of remote work and the Great Resignation, leadership development became a strategic priority for organizations worldwide. New Level Work was uniquely positioned to meet this demand with its 100% virtual, technology-enabled platform.
The Rise of Leora AI: Revolutionizing Leadership Development
Anticipating the rise of AI in leadership, Stephane led the creation of Leora AI, an AI-powered leadership assistant launched in 2024. Leora AI combines over 25 years of coaching expertise with advanced AI technology, offering personalized leadership development at scale. It works alongside human coaches and facilitators or as a standalone Learning & Development solution, making leadership growth accessible to managers at all levels.
“Leora AI is a game-changer,” Stephane remarks. “It enables us to deliver personalized coaching and insights at scale, ensuring that every leader gets the support they need to thrive.” The integration of AI has not only enhanced the company’s offerings but also positioned New Level Work as a pioneer in AI-driven leadership development.
A Culture of Purpose, Collaboration, and Impact
At the heart of New Level Work’s success is its dynamic organizational culture—one that fosters purpose-driven leadership, strategic thinking, and genuine human connection. The company is built on the belief that great managers prioritize their team’s well-being, growth, and success, creating an environment rooted in trust, transparency, and collaboration.
“We don’t care about tenure, age, or titles—what matters is the best idea and the best work,” says Stephane Panier.
New Level Work measures its culture through five core values:
- Purpose-Driven & Strategic – Aligning every decision with a clear mission and long-term vision.
- Collaboration – Creating synergy through teamwork and shared success.
- Inclusion – Ensuring diverse perspectives are valued and embraced.
- Playfulness – Encouraging creativity, curiosity, and innovation through a spirit of fun.
- Compassionate Care – Prioritizing empathy, well-being, and genuine support for one another.
This people-first approach has cultivated a high-performance culture where employees feel empowered to express their full potential. It’s no surprise that New Level Work’s team is described as “truly unique” by consultants and customers.
Leading into the Future
Under Stephane’s leadership, the company has evolved into a multimillion-dollar enterprise serving organizations worldwide in over 20 languages. The company boasts a coach rating average of 9.8/10 and training ratings consistently above 9.0/10, reflecting its unwavering commitment to excellence.
Looking to the future, Stephane Panier is focused on leveraging AI to further personalize leadership development while expanding New Level Work’s global footprint. His vision remains rooted in empowering leaders to lead with empathy, emotional intelligence, and a sense of responsibility to their teams.
Advice to Future Business Leaders
For budding business leaders, Stephane’s advice is clear: “Validate, build, and simplify.” He emphasizes the importance of achieving product-market fit, building strong teams by hiring people who complement your skillset, and simplifying everything to maintain focus and clarity.
“Leadership is about empowering others to achieve their best,” Stephane concludes. His journey is a testament to the power of visionary leadership, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to people’s growth.
A Legacy of Transformational Leadership
Stephane is not just a business leader; he is a visionary redefining what it means to lead in the modern workplace. Through New Level Work, he is transforming leadership development, ensuring managers are not just functionaries or fearmongers but servant leaders who empower others to thrive.
As we look to the future, one thing is certain: with leaders like Stephane Panier, the world of work is in capable hands, guided by vision, integrity, and a commitment to making a meaningful impact.
New Level Work is more than just a company—it’s a movement towards better leadership, better workplaces, and a better future. And at the heart of this movement is a leader who truly understands what it means to lead with purpose.
Key Takeaways from the Transformative Journey of Stephane Panier
1. Visionary Leadership Redefining Management:
Stephane is challenging conventional leadership paradigms by promoting a shift from traditional management to viewing leaders as architects of empowerment and success. His vision emphasizes emotional intelligence, empathy, and human connection, ensuring that leadership is about guiding and elevating teams to reach their full potential.
2. Innovative Leadership Development Approach:
Through New Level Work, Stephane has created a comprehensive leadership development ecosystem that integrates one-on-one coaching, group coaching, training, and AI-driven tools, offering a holistic solution unmatched in the industry.
3. Pioneering Growth Amid Challenges:
By overcoming initial skepticism about coaching for mid-level leaders, Stephane strategically demonstrated its value through pilot programs, eventually leading to broader adoption. The Leadership Journeys program enabled scaling to large organizations, significantly boosting market reach.
4. Revolutionizing Leadership with AI:
With the creation of Leora AI, Stephane Panier Positioned New Level Work at the forefront of AI-driven leadership development. This innovative suite provides personalized coaching experiences and skills development, ensuring leadership growth is accessible at all levels.
5. People-First Culture and Global Impact:
Guided by core values of integrity, innovation, community, passion, and humility, New Level Work fosters a high-performance culture. Under Stephane’s leadership, it has evolved into a multimillion-dollar enterprise serving clients globally, with consistently high satisfaction ratings.
